Shooting rest chair

Abstract

A shooting rest chair, components thereof, and associated methods. The shooting rest chair includes a base configured to rest on a support surface. A seat supported by the base is sized and shaped to support a shooter when the shooter is sitting in the seat. A pivot hub is supported by the base and connects the base to the seat. A weapon support arm assembly connects to the pivot hub by a first pivot connection. The weapon support arm assembly is configured to support the weapon and is pivotable with respect to the base and the seat about the first pivot connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shooting rest chair for supporting a shooter and a weapon above a support surface, the shooting rest chair comprising:
 a base configured to rest on the support surface;   a seat supported by the base, the seat being sized and shaped to support the shooter when the shooter is sitting on the seat;   a pivot hub supported by the base, the pivot hub connecting the base to the seat;   a weapon support arm assembly connected to the pivot hub by a first pivot connection, the weapon support arm assembly being configured to support the weapon, the weapon support arm assembly being pivotable with respect to the base and the seat about the first pivot connection.   
     
     
         2 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 1 , wherein the weapon support arm assembly includes an arm and a weapon rest, and wherein the arm is configured to extend under the seat from the pivot hub and upward to a connection of the arm to the weapon rest above the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 2 , wherein the arm includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a third arm portion, the first arm portion being coupled to the second arm portion by a height adjustment connection and the second arm portion being connected to the third arm portion by a second pivot connection. 
     
     
         4 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 3 , wherein the first arm portion includes a first segment and a second segment, the first segment extending laterally away from the pivot hub under the seat, and the second segment extending upward from the first segment to a distal end of the second segment above the seat, the second segment being connected to the second arm portion by the height adjustment connection, and the second arm portion being connected to the third arm portion by the second pivot connection. 
     
     
         5 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 4 , wherein the third arm portion includes a first section and a second section, the first section being connected to the second section by a third pivot connection. 
     
     
         6 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 5 , wherein the first section is connected to the second arm portion by the second pivot connection. 
     
     
         7 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 6 , wherein the rest is connected to the second section by a fourth pivot connection. 
     
     
         8 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 7 , wherein the rest comprises a cradle for holding the weapon. 
     
     
         9 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 8 , wherein the cradle comprises a bed and first and second jaws, at least one of the jaws being moveable with respect to the bed to clamp the weapon between the jaws. 
     
     
         10 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 1 , wherein the rest comprises a bed and first and second jaws, at least one of the jaws being moveable with respect to the bed to clamp the weapon between the jaws. 
     
     
         11 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 1 , wherein the weapon support arm assembly is configured to permit pivoting of the weapon support arm assembly from a left side of the seat to a right side of the seat across a front of the seat to change a configuration of the weapon support arm assembly between a left handed shooter arrangement and a right handed shooter arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 11 , wherein the weapon support arm is configured to permit pivoting of the weapon support arm in at least 90 degrees of motion with respect to the seat. 
     
     
         13 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 11 , wherein the weapon support arm is configured to permit pivoting of the weapon support arm in at least 180 degrees of motion with respect to the seat. 
     
     
         14 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 11 , wherein the weapon support arm is configured to permit pivoting of the weapon support arm in 360 degrees of motion with respect to the seat. 
     
     
         15 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 1 , wherein the seat is pivotable with respect to the base, and the weapon support arm assembly is pivotable with respect to the base independent from the seat. 
     
     
         16 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 15 , wherein the pivot hub defines a pivot axis and the seat and weapon support arm are configured to pivot about the pivot axis. 
     
     
         17 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a plurality of legs coupled to the pivot hub, each leg comprising a lower end configured to engage the support surface. 
     
     
         18 . The shooting rest chair of  claim 17 , wherein the legs are configurable in a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A portable chair for supporting a person above a support surface, the portable chair comprising:
 a base configured to rest on the support surface, the base being configurable in a deployed configuration and in a collapsed configuration;   a seat including a holder under the seat, the seat supported by the base and being sized and shaped to support the person when the person is sitting on the seat;   wherein the portable chair is configurable in an operational configuration and in a stowed configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The portable chair of  claim 19 , wherein when the chair is in the operational configuration the base is in the deployed configuration and connected to the seat to support the seat above the support surface and when the chair is in the stowed configuration the base is in the collapsed configuration and held by the holder under the seat.